27027 Tourney Road Valencia, CA 91355 800 421 7110 www.specialtylabs.com Test Updates February 27, 2009 Dear Colleague: Specialty Laboratories is pleased to announce the introduction of an advanced kidney stone collection kit ideal for use post-lithotripsy or in the emergency room, when ordering Stone Analysis, Kidney [4155]. Designed with patients in mind, the cup is easy to carry and the clear plastic top allows better visualization of the stone. The tight mesh also collects the fine sediment that is so important to a good diagnosis. To order your supply of this advanced kidney stone collection kit, call client relations at 800-421-4449 and request the U-Stone Cup. The new ovarian cancer marker HE4, is now available to assist in monitoring patients for possible recurrence. Please call client relations or visit our website at www.specialtylabs.com for ordering information on HE4, Ovarian Cancer Monitoring [S51786]. As Specialty Laboratories continues to enhance our client communications processes, we are pleased to tell you of an upcoming modification. March 1, 2009, we will begin notifying clients of pre-analytical specimen issues via our automated fax notification process. This process is similar to the DCI-Pending, Test Down/Test Delay, and TNP automated fax notification processes we introduced in 2008. All are designed to improve communications and provide timelier, detailed documentation. An added benefit is that this method provides a hard copy of the issue for investigation and record keeping purposes. Please contact your client relations representative or Russ Shultz, our Manager, of Client Relations, at (800) 421-4449 x6711 with any questions. We thank you for choosing Specialty and look forward to your continued support. For additional information, please visit our Web site at www.specialtylabs.com or contact Client Relations at 800-421-4449. Respectfully Yours, Christopher Lockhart, M.D. Laboratory Director
Test Changes: 7761 Helicobacter pylori IgG Abs Helicobacter pylori Antibody (IgG) Ref Range < 0.91 Index (Negative) 0.91 1.09 (Equivocal) >1.09 (Positive) Also affects DOS Code 7741 9436 Cytomegalovirus IgG & IgM Abs [EIA] Cytomegalovirus Antibodies (IgG, IgM) Ref Range < 0.91 Index (Negative) 0.91 1.09 (Equivocal) >1.09 (Positive) Also affects DOS Codes 2231, 2486, 9901, 9911, 9431 8761 Varicella-Zoster Virus IgG Abs March 17 Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody (IgG) Also affects DOS Code 8756 4133U Cannabinoids Confirmation Urine March 17 Specimen/Stability Urine 10.0 (6.0) ml: Ambient 14 days, Refrigerated 14 days, Frozen 2 months 2509 Adenovirus Ag Detection March 17 Specimen/Stability M4 Transport Media/Swab: Ambient 24 hours, Refrigerated 48 hours Alt Specimen Culturette/Swab: Ambient 48 hours, Refrigerated 72 hours, Frozen 7 days Smear/Slides: Ambient 48 hours, Refrigerated 72 hours, Frozen 7 days Sterile Container/Tube: Ambient 24 hours, Refrigerated 48 hours Viral Transport Media: Ambient 48 hours, Refrigerated 72 hours 2 of 5
Test Changes: (cont d) 5945 Heparin-PF4 Antibodies (HIT) Component OD Value (ADD) Reference Range <0.400 Negative 0.400 0.999 Positive >0.999 Strongly positive OD values of > 0.4 are considered a positive result. However, OD values > 1.0 are associated with a nearly 6-fold increased risk of thrombosis compared to OD values between 0.4 0.999 (Zwicker JI, et al J Thromb Haemost 2004; 2:2133-7). 4929 Clorazepate (Tranxene ) Methodology LC-MS-MS 4984 Hemoglobin Variant Screen w/reflex Electrophoresis CPT Code 83021 1947 Factor VIII Activity Reference Range 50 150 % Also affects DOS Codes 1967, 5961, 5981, 5984 7480 HIV-1 GenotypR PLUS (Rev Trans & Prot Inhib) Component Etravirine (ETR, Intelence) (ADD) Also affects DOS Codes 7480NY, Reflex of 7482, 7482A 5038 FLT3 & NPM1 GenotypR March 2 Regulatory Status LDT (Laboratory Developed Test) Also affects DOS Code 5038BK 1615 Complement C1q Regulatory Status LDT (Laboratory Developed Test) The CPT Codes provided are based on AMA Guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT Coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding CPT Coding to the payer being billed. 3 of 5
New Referral Tests: The following tests are now available from Quest Diagnostics and may be referred through Specialty Laboratories. S51786 S51790 S51808 S51809 HE4, Ovarian Cancer Monitoring Collagen Cross-Linked N-Telopeptide (NTX), 24 Hr Urine C3d Circulating Immune Complexes IA-2 Antibody Please call client relations at 800-421-4449 or visit our website at www.specialtylabs.com for ordering information. 4 of 5
Discontinued Tests: : 7420 HIV-1 Phenoscript Replaced by: S48870 - HIV-1 Phenosense [3200] 7420NY HIV-1 Phenoscript [NY] Replaced by: S48870 - HIV-1 Phenosense [3200] 9878 HIV-1 RNA UltraQuant [bdna] w/reflex HIV-1 Phenoscript S51343 Acid Phosphatase, Total [210X] th : 9436C 9431C 2486C Cytomegalovirus IgG & IgM Abs CSF [EIA] Recommended replacement: S49736 Cytomegalovirus IgG Antibody, CSF [64600] and S51001 Cytomegalovirus IgM Antibody, CSF [64605]. Methodology is ELISA. Cytomegalovirus IgG Abs CSF Recommended replacement: S49736 Cytomegalovirus IgG Antibody, CSF [64600]. Methodology is ELISA. Cytomegalovirus IgM Abs CSF Recommended replacement: S51001 Cytomegalovirus IgM Antibody, CSF [64605]. Methodology is ELISA. 8560 Cytomegalovirus IgG Antibody Index 5 of 5